In other royal news, Prince Harry dropped a surprise visit on Kyiv, Ukraine. He promised his ministry’s help to the thousands of military personnel who have been wounded in Ukraine’s current war with Russia. What started this trip was an unexpected meeting with Olga Rudnieva. She’s founder and chief of the Superhumans Trauma Centre in Lviv and she had invited him to see first-hand what impact the war has caused. The Duke of Sussex journeyed on a sleeper train from Poland to Ukraine. He hopes to spend time with the new Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko and talk one-on-one with some 200 veterans while on their home turf.
In one serendipitous meeting on the streets of New York, Prince Harry let it be known that he wanted to do just that. That conversation turned into the invitation extended by Rudnieva. He knew that the greatest impact would be made by going to Kyiv himself. He told us the story of how he randomly met Olga while in New York. It was a wonderful, serendipitous meeting and I told her I want to help — what should I do? She noted ‘the greatest influence you can all have is if you come to Kyiv’. I had to run it by my wife and the British government to ensure that was alright. Then the official invitation came.
Ahead of the upcoming visit, Prince Harry reflects on the incredible connection he built with Team Ukraine. That bond only deepened when the two countries hosted Invictus Games in The Hague two years ago. He emphasized just how special their situation was compared to all other would be challengers. “Each and every one of the competitors had a story to reach those games,” he explained, “but no one from any of the other participating countries was going home to war. Yet he expressed the importance of calling out their plight. As he told TRIP, “We can go further to humanize the individuals who are a part of this war and what they’re experiencing. We really just have to make sure we don’t let it slip off the top of people’s consciousness.”
During his visit to Kyiv, Prince Harry will meet with veterans. What’s more, he should provide an honest assessment of the scale of destruction the conflict should be causing. His goal is to reach every corner of Ukraine with specialized creative assistance. He admits that, back home in Lviv, the effects of the conflict are difficult to see. It is so far west. For many, it will be the first time they can truly gauge the destruction wrought by the war.
The Duke is in the U.S. as part of a broader effort by his Invictus Games Foundation. He established this non-profit organization in 2014 to heal and rehabilitate wounded veterans through sports. He’s expected to use the occasion to announce new initiatives to help support the rehabilitation of those injured in conflict.
Though we cannot end this war, we can do more — Act now, As Prince Harry said, .” Let’s not just meet the bare minimum—let’s do all we can to help the recovery process. His commitment underscores a desire not just for immediate assistance but for long-term support for veterans navigating life after injury.
Prince Harry’s visit underscores the increasing awareness among young people of the extraordinary humanitarian crisis that was unleashed by the war in Ukraine. He sits down face-to-face with veterans and local leaders. His objective is to highlight their experiences and build global solidarity with support for their recovery work.